Collapsible boat



A. E. FORD.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

APPLICATION men AUG- 11.. 1919.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. E. FORD.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG:11I 1919.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET].

FIG. 5.

d FIG/l. FIG/2. 6.9 49. d i l I FIG/4, k\\q A. E. FORD.

COLLAP SIBLE BOAT. APPLICATION FILED AUG-1|. l9l9.

1,333,109. I Patented Mar. 9,1920.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 3.

rials. 1-70.20.

l3 T on men.

nn'onmnnp roan, 0F LONDON, [EN LA D- eonnnrsisnnnonr.

I all whom concern v -=Be it known that. I, ARomBAnn- Enwanu Fem), asubject of: the King ofGreat'Britain,

' residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boats, of which the following is a specification. 1

I Thisinventionrrelatesto improvements in and ponnected with collapsible or r folding boats of the kind comprising a flexible skin, usually-of waterproof fabric, which is distended tothe proper shape and-stifiened and made seaworthy by means of longitudinal stifi'eners, cross battens or stretohers,- and side struts. :All-these members are capable of being readily inserted intoplaceand en-. gagement when, erectingthe craft and of being as readily disengaged andreinoved when dismantling and collapsing thexcraft after use. v V V I Now the object of the present invention is to provide a boat of this description of stouter build than heretofore which is simple in its construction, and not difficult to erect or dismantle, which is lighterthan boats 'of similar capacity-heretoforecon,- structed, and which, when dismantled,-may be :rolledup: so as to occupy little space. A further object is to providestifi'eners and struts of "such character andxconstruction that they afi'ordqconsiderable stifiness and strength and nevertheless are'capable of be ing packed into. a small spacewhenthe craft isv dismantled. Yet anotherzobj'ect ofathese im rovements is toimpart an increased I10.- tation capacity toyboats of this character-and also to enable the said flotation Qcapacity'to be varied at will if desired. The saidflota tion means may alsoibe employed for assists direction after the fashion .Iof a roll, slat blind, That portion'zoff -;the skin or; hull forming.the bottomis sd antassously made Specification of etters mat, a lication flle'dAug-ust 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,865.'

ofa double 'l'ayer orithicknesswhich is sewn soasrto-f'orm transverse tubular pockets. @r

a double fabric with such transverse pockets maybe woven. "lhe slats or battens are inserted into suchpockets which maybe closed at the ends by longitudinal seams along the bottom ."01 by other suitable means. Bilge keels may be seouredsalong the bottom, as

Paenaamw;19 0,.

for example by bolting lengths otsuitable 7 material to the lower. longitudinalstifieners, thebolts. passing-throughthe bottom and, if desired, through thebattens aforesaid.

.The skin or hull has suitable side eXten sion'sao-r-fiap's atseitherthe stem or stern,= or at both,.which fia'psmay be foldedover so that their edges meet. intthe middle and may beifastenedeor laced together. .Inythis way,

oneend,n;-or both ends, of the boat maybe provided with a sort of deck.

I The converging ends: of the .stiflenerszmay be f'astened togetherby means of Urboltsor wires. In the case. ofthree setsofstifl'eners being used, namely,v bottom, intermediate and gunwale stifl'eners,:the bottom stiifeners may be grooved ornotched tofseatvuponthe bent portions of the wires at the angles and the intermediate and gunwale-stifl'eners may be perforated or slotted to receive ofzthe U-bolts. s To increase the 'flotation capacity, rigidity and stability of "the boats, the-skin may be formed along vthe sides at one or more places with inflatable tubular pockets, or with 1 tublilar pocketsadapted:toreceive an inflat able tube. .11 the struts-areerected in1posi-i tion when thegtubes are :deflated, itwillbe seen that in'fl Eli/i011: will-decrease;the.;depth of the sides sothat the bottom and gunW-ale "stitfeners will be pulled towardone another and be forced to vtightly engage the: struts.

If more than one inflatable tube is :used on the side-the draft of the boat will be varied according to the 'numberof tubes inflated; l

the. limbs I i-order (that this invention vmay be readily understood, reference. is made to. the accompanying drawings, in whichzfi Figure l-is aside elevation of. a-boatgcon; strueted 1 accordingwto this'inventione zFigi-lis :aplan .of'Eig. 1. is a vertical section on thezline Ill -111C411? ;Eig.;-2. P ,1

JE-igA is a part: sectional .=-side elevation of an} eitl ermediate strut a larger male;

of the bottom longitudinal stiffeners.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the assembled stiifeners and the means for securingtheir ends together and i j 1 Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of same.

Figs. 11'a1ndf12 are views corresponding with Figs. 9 and 10, respectively, of a modified arrangement. 1 a l Fig. '13 is a'plan, and Fig. 1 1 an elevation of the pointed end of a b'oat'having a hinged cap fitted thereto.

Fig. 15 is'an elevation, as seen from the inside of the boat of an inflatable. pocket and means thereon for 'enablingthe inflatable tube to be inserted."

Fig. 16 is a. section illustrating. a fit ting of suitable-seats at the sides of the boat. i

Fig. 17 is a View showing in cross section a modified form of the bilge keels. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view, on .the same lines as Fig. .3, indicating a second in:

fiatable tube arranged near thebottom of the boat. i i M. a i Figs. 19 and 20 are respectively trans verse and longitudinal sectional viewsillus trative of the application of water ballast tubes at the bottom of the boat, and

'"Fig. 21 is a View on similar lines to Fig.

7 1, but showing the ballast tubes ofFigs. 19

and20.

In one suitable construction, and as shown in Figs. 1 t0 3, the boat is made' fiat bottomed and pointed at the stem and stern. The fiat bottom is of double fabric a a with transverse seams a to produce parallel pockets into which are inserted slats or battens b, the latter being retained .in place by sewing over the longitudinal edges of the bottom or by. other suitable means: The

how and stem 'are similarly fashioned sloping bottom portion 0 extending upward stem and stern. There are three longitudinal stiifeners cl cl and d on each side which are inserted intotubular pockets a. The

bot-tom stifleners'cl may be formed of main ormiddle lengths of ashQof greater depth than breadth in'cross section, see 'Fig. 4, and of'end lengths of cane (Z see Fig. 8' connected with the reducedends of the ash lengths by a metal joint sleeve f. The ash may be inseveral lengths joined'hy'sleeves f. These canes d have the'fdesi're'd slope or curvature to form the desired shapes at the bow and stern. The intermediate stiffeners d' ma y be" wholly of cane and, if desired, in several lengths fitted together 7 v suitable means. from the bottom proper to the pointc of the by suitable disconnectibleljoints similar to those seen in Fig. 8 Or the upper or gunwale stiifeners may be formed ofinterme diate leng'ths of ash and end lengths of cane. The end portions of these stiffeners are suitably shaped, sloped or curved so as to be convergent and conform with the pointed ends of-the boat as will be understood bycomparing Figs. 2, .3 and 8. Near the ends, and as shown in Figs. 9 and 10,

the parts i of the bottom stiffenersare formed with notches and perforations and the intermediate and upper stifieners 01 (Z are formed withslotsd forthe reception of the limbs of a U-bolt g which may be of stout wire. Or all of .the stiffeners cl cl (Z may be simplyperforated, as seen inFigs. l1 and 12, and the perforated ends may be strengthened by brass or otherferrules or caps d". This bolt g is applied to the convergent ends so that' its'bends or angles at the bottom engage 'recesses of the ends d of the bottom stilfeners and the limbs of the bolt pass through the. slots or holes in the stiffener s cZd, suitable nuts 9 being screwed on the bolts 9 and down on to the endsof the gunwale stifieners d to hold all secure.

Theend portions (1. of the "skin or hull are formed of or fitted with side extensionsor flaps a which are brought together over the gunwale stiflenersc2, and sewn or laced tog'ether along the middle so toprovide decked-in portions at the bow .andstern.

Just below the points at the stem-and stern theremay be hinged caps or pockets 71-, Figs. 13 and 14 made of fabric, the hinge .connecting them to the; skin'or hull being merely a suitably sewn connection. .These caps or pockets h are'turned up over the convergent endsof the stifieners d d" d? in order to receive the latter. The caps may be tightened and-Ffastenedby lacing-or other The struts, .asshown in Figs. 2,3 and 4 are formed of two hingedly connected portions 2' 2". .The struts of the endpairs may be made as seen in Fig. 5, with a notched foot 2' for engaging on the joint tube f of the bottom stiffenenor, as seen-in Fig. 5 the end struts may beformediwith 'a wide foot i and be inclined so that the-foot z" foot in theoorrectposition. The interme diate struts. as seen in -Fig.* 4 are curved V and have horizontalfoot portions 71 formed with a recess 2"" forengaging-resting upon,

or takingover the longitudinal stifieners (Z T-he'foot portions 11 may also rest upon the battens. The strut portions 2' t" are halved where hingedly connected at i and formed so that when'turned :to 'extend the strut, the parts 2' z". butt against one another at i and the upperportion i can, be turned no farther. A bailk pivotedto the upper portioni folds down into a notch l in the other or lower'portion z" and prevents collapse ofthe'strut or other known fastening'means may be employed for a Similar purpose. a strut is recessed or forked so as to fit against or engage the gunwale stiffener (Z. The botstrutted in this manner fore and aft and stretchers m, in two hingedly connected portions,.have a button m for locking thehinge joint.- Amidships,v the bottom stiifeners d (i may have the ends of'cords securedthereto andthese cords may be passed upwardly over or through holes inthe upper ends of the middle struts. v 1

Bilge keels 0 0 are fitted one along each side of the bottom a. oflengths of wood,as shown in Figs. 1, 3

metal formed of channel section'or the like as shown for example in Fig. 17. These bilgekeels 0 oas clearly shown in Fig. 4

are fastened by bolts pp passed upwardly through holes in the keel 0, bottom a and; bottom stifi'eners d nuts '7) being screwed on the upperends of and struts 5 wing formed on each side of the boat. with a lone gitudinal pocket or pockets 1'. A slitr' Fig.

15maybe formed in these pockets 7" on the inner side of'the boat, 'to permit ofth'e insertion of-an-"inflatable rubber tube 8 and if desired, the opening at the slit -may .be laced up after the insertion of the tube 8 which" is inflatable through one of'the ordisnary type valve connections-t. A flap a Fig. 15 ma be provided for tucking into The upper extremity i of each These may consist the pocket-at the slitrlforafiording protection to the tube at that place. Slits shown in; dotted lines-at 1* maybe provided near the ends of the pockets for facilitating thepulling through and arranging of theend portionsof the tubes and these slits also may be provided. with flaps as will be readily understood. The act of inflating the tubesv s contracts the sides a' of the boat in depth and consequently draws the bottom and gunwale ,stiflieners d? cl fa-nd (Zhard against the struts .Also theinflation of" the tubes 8 may be :utilized forbringing 7 about tensioning oilthe bracing .cordsand hlnged struts, above referred to, particua bulgeinwardly where such cords: are situ- 'larly if the skin be made capable oftakmg ated so that the inflated portionpressing against them-increases thetension thereof. The immersion of. the boat or its draft may be varied by having a second inflatable tube 1', Fig. 18 in the, skin nearer the bottom and inflating such tube ornotas desired. Or as shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21 there may be one or more interior canvas tubes or cylinders r formed nearthe bottom andthis or these may be fitted at-the ends. with valves 0" in water pipes 1 and I the boat lessened but by openingzthe air valve and permitting airto'escapmwater enters 'thetube or cylinder and increases 1 thedraftj and t or ofsuitable material such as sheet As seen. in Fig.

formed with recesses to take over the wing nuts 19, and slats z secured to'thesechocks provide side seats in the boats. 'End seats may bQ DIOVIdBCl by placing simllar chocks p on suitable battens and securing slats in ,j

these chocks. 1 4 Todismantle and fold the boat, the' bal last bags or tubesare emptied in manner aforesaid, the infiatedtubes are deflated,

and the caps 7t and the flaps a I at the ends of the boat are unlaced.

The struts and stretchers m may now'be disengaged, fold-l another and the whole stowed away. into a small bag orv the like. Prior tothe removal of the bottom stifi'enersjthe wing nuts 72 are removed from the bolts p which:

secure the bilge keels 0 0 and thebolts and f i i bilge. keels are conveniently stowed withfthe stiffeners. The sides oftheboatare-now folded overthe bottom andthe'whole fabric structure may berolled up from one end-tothe otlierrthe slats or battens b of thebottom-freely permitting such rolling to take place and making rthe g-roll stiff and port- 10.0 16, ch0cks13/ maybe placed upon the strut portions 2?, being 7 skin distensible to the desired boat shape,

able. uTheloose frame .members may be stowed in a bag as aforesaid, and the skin.

. may

be covered with a long rowing mat and secured by straps. Iolaim:-

1. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible upper and lower longitudinal stiffeners en: gaged with said skin, upright struts engaged between upper and lower stiffeners and a plurality of slats engaged with said skin in parallel relation with one another and adapted for forming a roll-up bottom for the boat substantially as set forth.

2; A collapsible boat comprising a flexible 7 skin distensibleto the desired boat shape 7 by means of longitudinal stiffeners and upright struts, the said skin at the bottom portion of the boat being furnished with a plurality. of parallel slats suitably spaced on said bottom and adapted for imparting a ,roll -up character to the said skin while affo rding the desired transverse rigidity to the boat bottom when the skin is distended, substantially as set forth.

- 3. A collapsible boatcomprising a flexible skin distensible to the desired boat shape by means of long1tud1nal stiffeners and upright struts, the'said skin at the bottom portion of the boat being furnished with a plurality of transverse pockets each containing a cross slat wherebythe bottom is of a roll- "up character substantially as set forth.

a4. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin distensible to the desired boat shape by means of longitudinal stifi eners and upright struts, the skin at the portion forming the bottom'of the boat being composed of a double layer of fabric having the two layers connected transversely along parallel spaced lines thereby forming parallel pockets for the reception of slats adapted for imparting the necessary transverse stiffness to the bottom of the boat when in use and for imparting a roll-up character to the bottom'when the boat is not in use substantially as set forth."

5. A collapsible boat comprising in com- .bination a flexible skin adapted for receivmg and retaining longitudinal upper and lower stiffeners, a pluralityof parallel cross slatsengaged with the skin in the bottom portion of the boat the ends of said slats extending beyond the lines along which the lowerlongitudinal stif'feners are en- 'gaged with said: skin, and upright struts adapted to be stepped on said lower stiff eners and adapted for engaging and supporting the upper stiifeners, substantially as set forth. I, V i r -'6 A collapsible boat comprising-a flexible skin distensible to the'desired boat shape by means of upper and lower longitudinal st'iffeners the bottom of the boat being stifiened transversely-by, a parallel disposition of cross slats engaged with said skin and longitudinall by lower stiifeners composed of'disconnectible lengths of different materials substantially as set forth.

7. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin gunwale stiffeners engaged with the upper part of said skim-bottom stiffeners engaged with said skin and disposed longitudinally of the boat, said bottom stifleners being composed of disconnectible lengths of different materials and different cross sections,'trans'verse bottom stifieners comprising a plurality of slats engaged with said skin in parallel disposition along the bottom of the boat the ends of said slats underlying said bottom stifl'eners, and upright struts stepped on said bottom stiiieners and stepped on, said bottom .stifieners' and adapted for engaging and supportmgfsald gunwale st-ifieners, substantially as set forth;

-- 95 A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin, gunwale' stiffeners engaged withtlie upper part of said skin, bottom stiifeners engaged with the portion of the skin formingthe'bottom of the boat and formed of disconnectible lengths, transverse bottom stiffeners comprising a plurality of parallel.

slats engaged with the said'bottom'portion,

struts between said gunwale stiifeners and said bottom stifieners, and bilge keels on the outerside of said skin, said bilge keels being fastened through said skin to the bottom longitudinal stiffeners, substantially as set forth.

10. Aicollapsible boat comprising a flexible skin, gunwale stiffeners engaged with the upper part of said skin, bottom longitudinal stiffeners engaged with the skin along the portion forming the bottom of the boat, bottom transverse stiffen'ers comprising a plurality of slats engaged in parallel relation with the said bottom portion, and struts between the gunwale and bottom longitudij nal stiffeners said struts being in hingedly' connected portions butted against one another near thejoint and fitted'with locking means adapted for preventing the folding of said struts from the extended position substantially as set forth.

11. A collapsible boat comprising a flexi ble skin, gunwale stifl'eners engaged with the upper part of said skin, bottomlongitudinal stilfeners engaged with the skin along the portion forming the bottom of the boat, bottom transverse stifleners comprising a plurality of slats engaged'in parallel relation with the said bottom portion, struts between the gunwale and bottom longitudinal stifleners, stretchers between the endv portions of the gunwale stiffeners, and extensions on the skin at the ends of the boat,

said extensions being adapted to be folded over and connected together to form a sort of deck and pockets for containing thereonvergent ends of the longitudinal stilfeners substantially as set forth.

12. A collapsible boat comprising aflexible skin, gunwale stilfeners engaged with the upper part of said skin, bottom longitudinal stllfeners engaged with the skin along the portion forming the bottom of the boat, bottom transverse stifi'eners comprising a plurality of slats engaged in parallel relation with the said bottom portion, struts between the gunwale and bottom longitudinal stilfeners, stretchers between the end portions of the gunwale stilfeners, and flaps of approximately triangular formation at the ends of the boat and on either side said flaps being adapted for folding over the boat and to have their contiguous longitudinal edges laced together substantially as set forth.

13. A collapsible boat comprising a flexi- .ble skin fitted with means for the reception and engagement of upper and lower longitudinal stiffeners and with transverse parallel pockets for the reception oftransverse floor slats, the said skin having end flaps of approximately triangular shape adapted V the upper portion of said skin, bottom longitudinal stifleners engaged with the skin along the portion forming thebottomof the boat, bottom transverse stiffeners comprising a plurality of slats engaged in parallel relation with the said bottom portion, struts between the gunwale and bottom longitudinal stiflener's, and U-shaped" connections adapted for securing together the assemblage of convergent ends of saidlongitudi-c nal stifleners, substantially as set forth.

15. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin, gunwale stifleners engaged with the upper portion of said-skin, bottom longitudinal stiffeners engaged -with the skin along the portion forming the bottom of the boat, bottom transverse stiffeners comprising a plurality of slats engaged in parallel relation withjthe said bottom portion, struts be tween the gunwale and bottom longitudinal stilfeners, and inflatable chambers on said skin between the bottom portion and the gunwale the inflation of said chambers being adapted for increasing the flotation capacity of the boat and also for reducing the height or depth of the sides whereby the 1 longitudinal stiffeners are caused toengage forth. 7

16. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin, gunwale stifleners engaged with the upper portion of the skin, bottom longitudinal stifi'eners engaged with] the skin along the portion forming the bottom of the boat, bottom transverse stifleners comprising a plurality of slats engaged in parallel relation with the said portion, struts between the gunwale and bottom longitudinal stiffeners', inflatable chambers on said skin between the bottom portion and the gunwale, and Water ballast chambers in the bottom portion of said skin said ballast chambers being fitted with inflation valve connections whereby air may be pumped into said chambers for the expulsion of water ballastsubstantially asset forth.

17. A collapsible boat comprising a flexible skin, gunwale intermediate and bottom longitudinal 'stifleners engaged therewith, struts stepped on said bottom stifleners and engaging with and supporting said gunwale stifieners said struts being disposed on the '75 tightly with the struts substantiallyas set inner side of said intermediate stifl'eners,"

keel members alined with said bottom stiffeners and secured by bolts passing through said bottom stilfeners and the foot portion of said struts, and transverse slats engaged with the skin along the bottom of the boat the ends of said slats being clamped between said keel members and said bottom stiffeners' substantially as set forth;

'ARCHIBALD EDWARD FORD. T a 

